Since the war began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has been a flash point as Iran has tightened its grip on the region, disrupting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer shipments through the passage and sending global prices soaring. According to Al Jazeera, the United States began a retaliatory blockade of Iranian ports on April 13, shortly after a fragile ceasefire was implemented.US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday that 49 ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports have now been redirected under the blockade. “To date, 49 commercial vessels have been redirected to comply with the blockade. The U.S. military remains fully committed to enforcement,” CENTCOM said in a social media post.In a separate development, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will start guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday. US Central Command said the operation would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members, although a US official clarified that the initiative is not an escort mission.This announcement drew a sharp reaction from Tehran. Ibrahim Azizi, a senior Iranian official and head of the parliament’s national security commission, warned that any US intervention would violate the ceasefire. “Any US interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” he said in a posting on Twitter.He added, “Trump’s delusional posts will not manage the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf!”His comments highlight growing tensions over the US role in maritime movement through the chokepoint, where thousands of sailors are already stranded on ships due to prolonged disruptions.Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, Donald Trump said US representatives are having “very positive discussions” with Iran as the two sides continue to exchange peace overtures. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it was currently reviewing the US response to Tehran’s latest proposal.